Why I’m Writing My Memoir (and Why You Should Too)
It's not about uncovering the past but understanding it better
Imagine returning to your childhood home after 35 years, only to find it in shambles. A place you once loved but had to leave behind when your parents decided to move in search of a better future.
That future came and went. Now, I’m returning to that home with a family of my own and a new project to undertake.
In search of a better future.
But this is now.
And while documenting this adventure will be a big part of this newsletter, so will be telling the story of how we got here.
And it all started 35 years ago.
Writing my memoir sat on the backburner for years, buried under a dozen other projects, some that got launched and others that never saw the light of day. I’ve been caught up in the whirlwind of responsibilities, work, and the never-ending to-do lists. Like many of us have.
So much for being the Slacker Generation.
Honestly? Some of it has been just surviving. But the thought of writing my personal story has always been there.
So why is writing my memoir something I’m finally prioritizing?
The truth is, I have a lot going on. Still. Things are not slowing down. But I am just delusional enough to believe that the stuff I am doing will interest others.
But even more significant than that, it just feels like this is the right time.
I genuinely believe that there’s never been a better time for Gen Xers to reflect on our lives and leave a legacy for ourselves and future generations.
And I’m not the only one who should be doing this.
We’re Living in Unprecedented Times
The world is in a constant state of change. Faster than it ever has. The internet. The global events of the past few years, pandemic, social upheaval, recent wars, Global Warning, AI.
All of these things are changing our reality day-by-day. Enough to make us rethink everything: what we value, what we hold onto, and how we make sense of our personal stories.
Have you seen Blade Runner?
The only right answer is, “Of course, duh!” And you’d be well-justified in being a little offended that I even asked.
But if for some extraordinary turn of events, or situation you have not… first off, shame on you! But in all seriousness, go check it out. I’m sure it is streaming in one of the 20 different currently available platforms.
I saw it again a few years ago when the sequel came out. And it just hit me differently this time around. Recently, a lot of stuff seems to be doing that.
With context, this monologue is worth the price of the ticket:
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Time to die.
If you’ve seen it, you KNOW who said that. And If you haven’t, I won’t ruin it, I still have faith that you will check the movie out, and I want you to savor that moment.
When future generations look back, they’ll want to know how we navigated the events we witnessed, what we felt, and how we adapted.
Our stories are part of a much bigger narrative.
Writing a memoir is a way to capture our personal journeys and how we experienced the world around us.
For Gen X, in particular, there’s a richness to the stories we’ve lived through. Our experiences are uniquely situated in this transformative period of history.
As a writer, I’ve always been drawn to stories, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, you name it. I’ve written my fair share of them all. But when it comes to my own life, I have to admit that it took me a while to realize how particular it has been.
Not spectacular by any stretch.
And even though I’ve dedicated some of it to noble causes, I am not winning any Nobel prizes any time soon.
But I’ve experienced life, and I’ve seen things from my own little corner of the world, and I have reacted to them, with the people around me, in my own very personal and unique way.
It’s about finding meaning in your story
Memoir-writing forces you to look at the arc of your life, to find patterns and meanings in experiences that, at the time, might have seemed random, but in the big scheme of things, they provide deep personal insights that ultimately help us shape our collective consciousness.
But only if we leave a record behind to help others remember them.
Your story matters more than you think. So, I will start writing mine and share with you the progress I have made while also working on restoring my childhood home.
I sincerely hope you give it a shot at tackling your own.